AP: The BBC said Thursday it will launch a Persian-language TV channel next week that can be seen in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and elsewhere, despite Iranian claims that it will be used to recruit spies.
BBC to launch Persian-language TV channel
Iran biggest Mideast challenge for Obama – W.House
Reuters: President-elect Barack Obama should seek tougher sanctions against Iran, which will be his biggest Middle East challenge, outgoing White House national security adviser Stephen Hadley said on Wednesday.
Reliance to stop gasoline sales to Iran – report
Reuters: India's Reliance Industries Ltd has decided to stop gasoline supplies to Iran after fulfilling all contractual obligations, the Business Standard newspaper reported on Wednesday.
Bush adviser: Iran, Pakistan key Obama challenges
AP: President George W. Bush's national security adviser said Tuesday that Iran is the biggest challenge President-elect Barack Obama will face in the Middle East and that more sanctions will be needed to force Tehran to forgo its nuclear ambitions and support for extremists.
Arab Gulf states ponder what to do with Tehran
Washington Times: Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad did not get an invitation to the annual summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a reversal from one year earlier when Iran was the surprise invitee.
70,000 Iranian students ‘volunteer to carry out suicide bombings in Israel’
Daily Telegraph: More than 70,000 Iranian students have volunteered to carry out suicide bombings against Israel, according to Iran's state news agency, but President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has not responded to their request for permission.
Iran firms told: cut ties to “Zionist”-held firms
Reuters: Iran's industries minister told Iranian firms on Monday to suspend commercial links with international companies which might have "Zionist" shareholders, Iran's ISNA news agency reported.
Gulf OPEC to ignore Iran oil supply cut call: source
Reuters: Core OPEC oil producers in the Gulf would ignore Iran's call for Islamic countries to cut supplies to supporters of Israel in response to the Israeli offensive in Gaza, an OPEC source said on Monday.
Public outrage gives Iran’s hard-liners a political boost
Wall Street Journal: As Israel gambles on a potentially messy ground invasion of Hamas-controlled Gaza, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also has a lot at stake in the outcome of the fighting.
Why Tehran stokes violence in Gaza
Washington Times: Israeli raids on Hamas' infrastructure, along with troop movements around Gaza and the shelling of Israel by that organization, are troubling but certainly not surprising.
